understanding traumatic brain injury: part 1 · understanding traumatic brain injury: ... the neuro...

Understanding Traumatic Brain Injury: Part 1

A period of confusion and disorientation often follows a TBI.

http://depts.washington.edu/tbicomic

Hi, I’m Sam! I’m at City Hospital visiting my brother Mike. He was in a car accident...

...Come on, I’ll introduce you to my family.

Where are we? Can’t I just go home?

You’re at City Hospital but you’ll be able to go home soon.

This is Mike, and our parents Carolyn and Lewis. He’s been in the Neuro ICU (NICU) for two weeks for his Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

Mike, today is a big day, you’re going to the Rehabilitation Unit!

Therapies you’ll have in rehab will to help you begin to recover.

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TBI REHABILITATION

Therapies on a brain injury rehabilitation unit be-gin the process of recovery by helping the brain make new connections. Patients may have physi-cal, occupational, and speech therapy, as well as other treatments. Remember that these changes don’t happen quickly. Therapies in a hospital are a good first step, but usually must be followed by outpatient therapy and activities at home are also needed. Cheryl is a Physical therapist who evaluates

physical limitations, rates how severe they are, and plans interventions to help address them.

Most people with TBI are able to walk and use their hands well within 6-12 months of

their injury.

Physical limitations Usually don’t keep people from driving or living independently in the

long term.

TBI may have lasting physical effects. Issues with balance,

weakness, or fatigue often keep people from returning to the same level of activity as

before the injury.


Yep! That sounds good.

Hi Mike, Our goal today is to make a plan to Get

you back to walking. Are you ready?

Okay Mike, I want you to hold your leg Straight. I’m going to try to push

it down. Don’t let me.

Now that we know which muscles need work we

can start making an exercise program.

You have some balance issues, but your main physical problem is that you are weak from being in bed for so long.

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REHABILITATION PSYCHOLOGY

Great work today! I bet you’re tired!

I’m really tired…

Jeanne is a clinical psychologist who specializes in rehabilitation medicine. She provides

counseling after a TBI and sometimes uses neuropsychological tests to assess cognitive

limitations someone may have after a TBI.

Oh good.

Yeah, some of the exercises were

really hard!


Let’s give Mike some space and check back in for his rehab psych appointment

on Friday.

Mike, we’ve gotten the results of your neuropsych

evaluation and you did well but there are a few areas where

you had some difficulty.

These are common problems After a TBI and I expect that as your brain continues to heal you’ll

improve in all these areas.

YOu had some problems focusing, switching your attention between things, and processing larger amounts of information…

I’d like you to meet with Li; she’s our speech and language therapist.

She’ll work with you to make a program for recovery.

Well that’s ok. They’re meant to be difficult.

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After a brain injury, a person may have trouble with some of the cognitive activities necessary to be independent and competent in our complex world. The brain processes large amounts of information all the time allowing us to be independent in our daily lives. This is called executive function. Individuals with moderate-to-severe brain injuries often have problems in basic thinking skills such as paying attention, concentrating, and remembering new information. They may also:

• Think, speak, and solve problems slowly,

• Become confused when routines are changed or when there is too much activity or noise around them,

• Stick to a task too long, and may be unable to switch to a different one when having difficulties,

• Choose the first “solution” they see without thinking it through,

• Speech and language problems like trouble understanding some words or finding the right one.

SPEECH AND COGNITIVE THERAPY

Two weeks later...

As a rehab focused social worker Valentina provides guidance and counseling to help direct

patients to the resources that they need and helps with transition out of the hospital.


Li is a speech and language pathologist. SHe helps people resolve language problems

like trouble speaking clearly or finding the right words. SHe also helps to address other cognitive problems like organization, focus, and processing

larger amounts of information.

Hi Mike, today we’re going to do some exercises to strengthen your focus, and your ability to organize information…

We’re getting ready for Mike to leave the hospital next week. But there is one big problem that Valentina is helping us with.

We call these things “executive function” because they help you be in charge of your life.

I can also teach you some tricks for how to deal with some of your limitations.

I always wanted to be an executive, but I’m not sure I’m dressed for it.

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PROBLEM-SOLVING METHODS

If you’re new to the problem solving method, practice with a small problem before using it on a big ones.

EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMSChanges in emotions and/or behavior are common after TBI. Physical or chemical changes to the brain, difficulty thinking or paying attention, and economic or life changes resulting from changed abilities can all be causes. These changes can be distressing for both the person with TBI and their fam-ily. Fortunately, with training, therapy, and other supports, people can learn how to manage these problems. It’s also important for people who are close to them to find ways to cope with their distress.


Now let’s list the pros and cons of each one.

This is a great time to go through the problem solving method!

Now it seems so obvious... I guess I should call and ask for their help.

When Mike leaves next week He’s going to move in with us for a while; the problem is that we don’t have an easy way to get his stuff out of his old place.

We can’t afford to pay movers, don’t have the time to do it ourselves and feel weird asking friends.

Since Mike has come to the rehab unit we’ve noticed some changes in his emotions and behavior.

So, here are steps in the problem solving method. Look! You’ve already done the first two!

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Mike sometimes says inappropriate things.

Mike sometimes laughs inappropriately.

Mike has difficulty recognizing appropriate social boundaries.

Some of the behavioral changes that people may experience after a TBI include:

• Restlessness • Being more dependent on others• Mood swings• Irritability• Aggression • Lethargy• Acting inappropriately for the setting• Lack of self-awareness (this could caused by either the TBI or being unwilling to accept the truth of their situation)

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY


So Cheryl, I’m going home soon. Do you want to go on a date with me? We’d Like you to start

making your own bed, so you’re used to it when you go home.

Isn’t that your job?

Why are you laughing?

I need to go visit a friend this after-noon, her mother is very ill...

I can’t help it.

Mike, that’s inappropriate.

As an Occupational Therapist Raj’s goal is to help people be as independent as possible in their daily activities and to help them have

meaningful and satisfying lives.

Mike is almost ready to move back home but with the changes in his behavior and abilities we want to be sure that he is as safe and independent as possible.

Mike worked with Raj on a lot of things, from remembering how to tie his shoes to cooking safely.

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SAFETY TIPS:Depending on the symptoms that the person with TBI has, some of these tips may not be necessary, if you are unsure ask your health care provider.

• Keep clutter out of areas they will use, and off stairs. Also remove small rugs that could be tripped on.

• Remove dangerous things (matches, knives, and guns).

• Keep medications in a locked cabinet or drawer.

• Ask your doctor before giving over-the-counter medications.

• If there is a risk they may fall out of bed, place the mattress on the floor

• Light rooms well. Night-lights can prevent falls.

• Do not leave the person with TBI alone if they are severely agitated or confused.

• If they tend to wander, keep doors to potentially dangerous areas (like basements) locked. Consider getting them an ID bracelet in case they get lost.

• Consider attaching an exit alarm or a bell to doors to the outside of the house.

• A mat alarm can also be placed beside the bed to alert you if they get up at night.

Clutter can be a safety concern, but visual clutter can also cause Overstimulation..

Bowl on the dresser to hold keys and wallet

For some people it may be a good idea to have someone else control access to medications

Few pictures on walls

Nightlight

Dresser drawers organized

No clutter


I traded with him, He’s on the main floor now

Yes, Mike’s room is almost set up already.

Before his injury, Mike was living on his own but he’ll need to live with us for a while.

So Cheryl told me that Mike’s room is upstairs?

That’s great! It sounds like you guys are way ahead of me!

This looks really good. I do see a few things that could be changed to make it safe and easy for Mike. I’ll make a list.

We changed some things based on Raj’s

Advice...

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SOURCE

The health information presented in this Graphic Fact Sheet is based on evidence from research and/or professional consensus and has been reviewed and approved by an editorial team of experts from the TBI Model Systems.

AUTHORSHIP AND ILLUSTRATION

Portions of this InfoComic were adapted from the four part series of Consumer Information Pamphlets also titled Understanding TBI, which was developed by Thomas Novack, PhD, and Tamara Bushnik, PhD in collaboration with the Model System Knowledge Translation. Portions of this document were adapted from materials developed by the University of Alabama TBIMS, Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation, New York TBIMS, Mayo Clinic TBIMS, Moss TBIMS, and from “Picking up the Pieces After TBI: A Guide for Family Members”, by Angelle M. Sander, PhD, Baylor College of Medicine (2002).

Funding for this project was provided by Brain Injury Alliance of Washington; University of Washington; TBI Model System; Veterans Training Support Center; Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs; the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services; Washington State TBI Council; King County; and National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, Department of Education, Grant #H133A120028.

Please send any feedback or questions about this InfoComic to [email protected]


understanding traumatic brain injury: part 1 · understanding traumatic brain injury: ... the neuro...

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